Müller: "These Theories Are Radically Mistaken"

Chiesa Online ^ | 7/29/14 | Sandro Magister

[marshmallow]

The prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith refutes the ideas of those who want to permit second marriages with the first spouse still alive. He is backed up by Cardinal Sebastián, who also disagrees with Cardinal Kasper. But whose side is Pope Francis on?

ROME, July 29, 2014 – In a book-length interview recently released simultaneously in Italy, Spain, and the United States, Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller, prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, revisits and develops what he had already reiterated last fall in an article in “L'Osservatore Romano” that made a sensation:

Divorced and Remarried. Müller Writes, Francis Dictates(23.10.2013)

In that article, Müller dwelt above all on the question of communion for the divorced and remarried, reiterating the reasons for the prohibition.

Already at the time, in fact, even at the higher levels of the hierarchy there were some who maintained the need for the Church to remove this ban.

And at the consistory in February of this year this change was upheld by the one whom Pope Francis had charged with introducing the discussion, Cardinal Walter Kasper:

Kasper Changes the Paradigm, Bergoglio Applauds (1.3.2014)

In the following months, Kasper's ideas prompted particularly vigorous public reactions from cardinals Carlo Caffarra, Velasio De Paolis, Walter Brandmüller, and Thomas Collins.

But now it is again the prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith who is intervening forcefully in defense of the traditional doctrine.

The interview was conducted last June by Carlos Granados, director of the Biblioteca de Autores Cristianos in Madrid. It was reviewed by the cardinal and has as its backdrop the upcoming synod of bishops, dedicated to the theme of the family.

In the preface another cardinal, former Pamplona archbishop Fernando Sebastián Aguilar, writes:

[yldstrk]

I thought marriage was a sacrament, spouse didn’t. I didn’t know spouse didn’t see it as sacrament, and true Catholics were hard to find to help sort it out, from a Catholic upbringing, I was lost in a pagan society that scorned Catholics. Went likety split back to the Latin Mass.

[defconw]

I made darn sure my husband understood that once we said I do in front of God, he was stuck with me. Even after death. ;)

[cloudmountain]

I thought marriage was a sacrament, spouse didn’t. I didn’t know spouse didn’t see it as sacrament, and true Catholics were hard to find to help sort it out, from a Catholic upbringing, I was lost in a pagan society that scorned Catholics. Went likety split back to the Latin Mass.

Deo gratias.

[ConservingFreedom]

'What happens when even implicit faith is absent from a marriage? When this is lacking, of course, even if the marriage has been celebrated “libere et recte," it could be invalid. This leads us to maintain that, in addition to the classical criteria for declaring the invalidity of marriage, there must be further reflection on the case in which the spouses exclude the sacramental nature of marriage. Currently we are in a phase of study, of serene but tenacious reflection on this point.'

[ConservingFreedom]

Amen! 'These theories are radically mistaken. One cannot declare a marriage to be extinct on the pretext that the love between the spouses is "dead." The indissolubility of marriage does not depend on human sentiments, whether permanent or transitory. This property of marriage is intended by God himself. The Lord is involved in marriage between man and woman, which is why the bond exists and has its origin in God.'

[Jeff Chandler]

Currently we are in a phase of study, of serene but tenacious reflection on this point.

Which is better than a phase of raucous but irresolute reflection.

[ConservingFreedom]

:-D

[Albion Wilde]

Thinking of your friend who has been struggling with these issues.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Pray for them: Carolyn & Sam. I will add another prayer to yours, too --- because they need 'em.

It's 30 years now since there have been women canonical judges in the USA, but I must say I'd be temperamentally unfit to be on a Marriage Tribunal. On the one hand, I am absolutely committed to the Church's doctrine that a valid marriage creates a sacred bond in the eyes of God which endures until death. On the other hand, the emotions in hard cases would either sway me or make me recuse myself from the case to avoid being swayed.

"Suffering and sacrifice" and even "Fidelity to a vow" are not words anybody wants to hear. But one has to be ready to even die in defense of the vow.

[Albion Wilde]

"Suffering and sacrifice" and even "Fidelity to a vow" are not words anybody wants to hear. But one has to be ready to even die in defense of the vow.

Marriage for many is definitely a "death to self", but not in the scriptural sense! It is very hard for most people to accept that their partner will break their vows not just of fidelity, but of love, loyalty and cherishing their partner. It is almost worse than death to face the death of any hope for a good or even tolerable condition in their home and most personal arena, especially if things go bad early on and there are children caught in the crossfire of fighting or abuse of any kind. Any possible solution for faithful Christians must come from churches helping to improve the mate-selection process, as well as clergy refusing to marry couples who cannot evidence a solid foundation.

Churches need to do much, much more education about family relations from early childhood onward, stressing courtship and discernment instead of romance and fantasy. Teaching can be integrated into Sunday School lessons as well as from the pulpit, not just separate classes after an in-love or in-lust couple has already planned to marry. Family education should be ongoing, and should include whole-family dynamics, such as how to parent not just a child, but someone who will become a future adult husband or wife; how to be a good parent-in-law or son/daughter-in-law; how to cope with relations with the "other" set of in-laws instead of power struggles; why marrying within your religion can simplify your life, but what to do if there is another religion, mixed-religious or divorced parent-in-laws -- all these sorts of difficult areas that smash happiness if they are not resolved effectively.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Amen to all that.